Saturday, April 8, 2006

City may be liable for workforce board

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter; aduncan@dchieftain.com

The Socorro City Council voted at their meeting Monday night to allow the mayor to sign an agreement assigning the city some liability in case of loss or misuse of money by the Workforce Investment Act fund distribution board.

However, Mayor Ravi Bhasker and several councilors expressed dissatisfaction with arrangement, saying the mayor didn't have control over the board even though he would be liable for its actions.

The council approved the agreement unanimously, although councilors Gary Jaramillo and Dan Armijo were absent.

Bhasker said under the agreement, the chief elected officials such as him became responsible for the actions of the Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board.

"And that's a pretty heavy task," he said.

Bhasker said he knows the board and WIA bring money to the area, but he disagrees with the administrative arrangement. He wanted his protest in the meeting minutes, although he expected to sign the agreement.

The Workforce Investment Act primarily funds job-training programs. Under federal rules, the national government sends money to an area. Chief elected officials appoint the more than 40 members of the private Southwest Area Workforce Development Board, which distributes the money. A chief elected official board also exists.

WIA executive director Jaime Coronado said, at the meeting, that officials from the City of Socorro, Socorro County and the Village of Magdalena would appoint seven of the group's members. They would also have some control over the people others chose, he said.

Tuesday, he said the officials have responsibility for overseeing the money distribution board.

The chief elected officials have a lot of say over what needs receive funding and can serve on the board, he said. They can also stop any action of the group.

At Monday's meeting, Bhasker said all members vote on all issues before the board, so he would be responsible for the whole group. He complained of the board refusing to handle a conflict of interest in the past.

WIA financial manager Melissa Loomis said members sign a conflict of interest contract that is enforced. She also said with other two entities carrying liability insurance on the board, she didn't think problems would fall in officials' laps.

Coronado said the city could still receive funds if Bhasker didn't sign the agreement, but other entities would distribute the money.

Bhasker and Councilor Gordy Hicks both complained that the board members didn't know proper decision-making procedures.

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